GCU Offers Film Series as Part of 9/11 Remembrance

Three Films Provide Insight into the West’s Relations with Islam before 9/11/01

Lakewood, N.J., Sept. 6, 2011—Join GCU for “The West and Islam before 9/11/2001: An Overview of War and Insurgency in the Middle East Using ‘Reel History,’ a free film series sponsored by the Department of History, Geography, and Political Science. The series will show three films, each on consecutive Fridays at 6:00 p.m. beginning September 16, that focus on the hotbed of social and political turmoil that is the Middle East and the West’s relationship with Islamic peoples throughout the 20th century.

Each film will be followed by a debrief and discussion with a faculty member. All films will be shown in the Little Theatre on GCU’s Lakewood campus. Admission is free to all, but reservations are required due to limited seating.

September 16, 6:00 p.m.Lawrence of Arabia (1962, directed by David Lean; 216 minutes)Starring Peter O’Toole, Alec Guinness, and Anthony Quinn, this film relates the saga of the Arab Revolt, with British support, against the Ottoman Empire during World War I. T. E. Lawrence, a British army officer, organizes a guerrilla army and —for two years—leads the Arabs in harassing the Turks with desert raids, train-wrecking, and camel attacks. Eventually, he leads his army northward and helps a British general destroy the power of the empire. The film won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

September 23, 6:00 p.m.The Battle of Algiers (1966, directed by Gillo Pontecorvo; 121 minutes)This film, commissioned by the Algerian government, narrates the Algerian War of Independence from France (1954–1962), along with the torture and insurgency that characterized this “savage war of peace.” After the U.S. invasion of Iraq (2003), the Pentagon used this film to illustrate the challenges posed by urban guerilla warfare.

September 30, 6:00 p.m.Black Hawk Down (2001, directed by Ridley Scott; 144 minutes)In 1993, an elite group of American Rangers and Delta Force soldiers are sent to Somalia on a critical mission to capture a violent warlord whose corrupt regime has led to the starvation of hundreds of thousands of Somalis. When the mission goes terribly wrong, the men find themselves outnumbered and literally fighting for their lives. The film, which won two Academy Awards, stars Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore, and Eric Bana.

The film series is part of a larger schedule of events for GCU’s remembrance of 9/11. Other public events include:

Friday, September 9, 10:00 am–3:00 pmLabyrinth Activity Reflecting on the Losses of 9/11Reflect on the memories of 9/11 and memories of the following years.
McAuley Heritage Center, Sponsored by the GCU Counseling Center

Sunday, September 11, 5:00 p.m.Mass Commemorating the 10th Anniversary of 9/11Dorothy Marron University Community Chapel, Sponsored by the Office of Campus Ministry

Monday, September 122:00–3:30 p.m. Open Forum to Discuss 9/11Casino Ballroom, Sponsored by the GCU Counseling Center

Tuesday, September 20, 7:00 p.m.Thomas Kean, Chair of the 9/11 Commission and Former Governor of New JerseyCasino Auditorium

For reservations or more information on any of these events, contact the GCU Office of Conferences and Special Events at 732.987.2263 or specialevents@georgian.edu.

Founded in 1908 and sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, Georgian Court University is a comprehensive university with a strong liberal arts core and a special concern for women. A forward-thinking university that supports diversity and academic excellence, Georgian Court serves nearly 3,000 students of all faiths and backgrounds in a residential Women's College and a coeducational University College with undergraduate and graduate programs. Georgian Court's main campus is located at 900 Lakewood Avenue, Lakewood, N.J., on the picturesque former George Jay Gould estate, now named a National Historic Landmark. Georgian Court also offers classes at its site at One Woodbridge Center in Woodbridge, at Coastal Communiversity in Wall, and at Cumberland County College in Vineland.